LETTER: Norwell library not worth another tax override

Aside from the “want” and “need,” argument, if we are to remain an attractively desirable town with state-of-the-art facilities, having a modern library is no exception.

The second issue is a bit of a reach. Nearly without exception, Norwell has used tax overrides to fund its capital infrastructure initiatives including its schools and most recently its police station. With each (Proposition 2-1/2) override, a new and higher tax benchmark gets established providing the Town with the ability to permanently take our property taxes to new and higher levels.

Town Meeting voters over the last several years, who have supported these very same overrides have repeatedly denied placing ballot questions before all voters providing them an opportunity to offset a portion of these permanent tax increases by reducing or eliminating the 3 percent Community Preservation surtax.

Furthermore, retiring the town’s debt obligations is likely to offer no future tax relief. Norwell’s strategy replacing retiring debt with an equal or greater long-term financing obligation is well known amongst past and present town officials.

Count me in favor conceptually of a new Norwell library. Count me out funding it by another tax override.